Authorities dismantled a large statue of football star Lionel Messi in Kolkata's Lake Town neighborhood on Monday, June 1, 2024 [3].

The removal follows urgent safety warnings from local residents who observed the structure becoming unstable. The incident highlights the risks associated with rapid, large-scale installations in areas prone to severe weather.

Local residents reported that the statue began swaying in the wind following recent storms [1], [2]. These concerns prompted officials to act to prevent a potential collapse or accident in the densely populated area of West Bengal [1], [4].

There are conflicting reports regarding the exact size of the monument. Some sources describe the statue as 70 feet tall [1], [4], while other reports list the height as 45 feet [5].

The statue had stood in Lake Town for five months before the decision to remove it was made [5]. Reports indicate that the structural instability was first spotted during May, leading to the eventual dismantling on June 1 [2], [3].

Officials said the priority was the safety of the public. The dismantling process was initiated after it became clear the structure could not withstand the environmental pressures of the region [4].

“The statue was dismantled because it was deemed structurally unsafe after locals raised safety concerns.”

The removal of the Messi monument underscores the tension between fan-driven public art and urban safety regulations. In cities like Kolkata, where seasonal storms are common, the failure of such a large structure after only five months suggests a lack of rigorous engineering oversight during the installation phase.